clear why. ‘Don’t say that’ isn’t enough.”
T he network, he points out, would do more
than simply help ensure organizational continu
ity and longevity. Such an association also
would serve as a crucial resource for education
on issues, activism and motivation. And a net
work of GSAs would provide role models, inspi
ration and support for other schools wanting to
establish such an organization.
Passing the real test
ogether, the annual workshop and statewide
network will provide the coalition with not
only a consistent message, hut one that is tai
lored to the individual needs of diverse commu
nities across Oregon.
"We want to connect people all over the
state and within their communities," Franks
says, “to increase visibility, provide education
and empower young people so that
schools throughout Oregon can be
safe schools for everybody.” J H
T
For more information about the
O regon S afe S chools and
C ommunities C oalition
According to Joyce Liljeholm, multiple advocates
within the same community can better sustain
their momentum through mutual support
visit the Internet site
www. oregonsafeschools. org or
call Joyce Liljeholm at
teacher’s plate, Hackett says. "They see it as run-
of-the-mill harassment and teasing. It’s hard to
ask them to make it a top priority, hut we need to
work with them to develop strategies to deal
with it. Some make it clear that you can’t he dis
respected, and that becomes low effort once
established. But teachers also need to make it
or Molly Franks at
Equity funds
safe school
initiative
R esp ite significant progress in recent years,
U schools continue to ignore or promote
homophobia, which leads to harassment and
violence,” states program material from the Safe
Schools Initiative of Equity Foundation. "The
challenge is to help school administrators and
teachers understand that the problem is real and
that there are effective ways to address it.”
Two years ago, Equity executive director
Matthew Nelson launched a special research and
grant program to do just that. He assembled a team
of community leaders to investigate what was being
done around the country to make school environ
ments safer for queer and questioning kids. They
sought examples of documented, research-based
programs to promote in Oregon.
Hard data, however, were rare, and most exist
ing anti-bullying curricula did not specifically
address issues of harassment based on sexual ori
entation or gender identity. “We were frustrated,”
Nelson recalls, “but we took what we found and
put together a request for proposals based on
best indicators for success.”
Several criteria were evident,
including the involvement of youth, past experi
ence working with schools and the ability to lever
age other resources from throughout a community.
O f the 17 proposals received from around the
state, the foundation last fall awarded four
grants, each renewable for two subsequent years.
In addition to the Oregon Safe Schools and
Communities Coalition, they include:
• Community Alliance of Lane County:
$5,000 to raise awareness of hum an rights,
mobilize response when abuses of dignity occur
and hold public institutions accountable, espe
cially working with the Springfield schools.
• James Madison High School (Portland):
$7,538 to develop a curriculum about hate and
nonviolence and to create a Gay Straight
Alliance to forge bonds among diverse groups
and further promote students’ self-esteem.
• Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays Salem Chapter: $3,000 to promote a
safe educational environm ent in the Salem-
Keizer area through staff training regarding sex
ual minority issues, making resources and mate
rials available and creating GSAs.
Nelson says grant recipients will present the
results of their programs in a public forum this fall.
“Our hope is that we will prod die schools to say that
it is OK to talk about gay and lesbian issues.” JT1
For further details contact EQUITY FOUNDATION at
503-231-5759 or www.ecjuityfoundadon.org.
503 - 232 - 4556
T h e challenge is to help school
administrators and teachers understand
that the problem is real and that there are
effective w ays to address it"
503 - 260 - 5792 .
T imothy K rause is
a Portland
free-lance writer.
\
_________________________ — Matthew Nelson
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